Is it too soon to say Niagara is back on the road to winning? We have one "W" in a row this month! On the other side of the coin Kingston broke a winning streak to lose one to Peterborough on Sunday. Could their luck be changing and will we see victory Thursday night for the first home game in too long?

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Ice Dogs currently sit 6th in points – and 10th in games played.

<> Along with a game in hand, the Ice Dogs are only 3 points behind the visiting 5th place Kingston Frontenacs.

<> Looking a little further up and the Ice Dogs are 4 pts out of 4th place (with a game in hand on Hamilton).

<> If you care to look a little further up, the Ice Dogs are 5 pts out of 3rd place (with 3 game in hand)

With the Ice Dogs trying to chase down Kingston for 5th, Thursday is a big game! According to bpsportsniagara.ca: Defenceman Elijah Roberts (upper body) did not play this week. Burke said the mobile rearguard is feeling better but is not sure if he will be cleared to play this week. Phil Tomasino will be back in the line-up.

A winning streak of almost any length puts the Dogs right back in the thick of things. I think we can be thankful that the Dogs haven’t been absolutely left in the dust by the teams Niagara’s chasing. Bit by bit, point by point, the Dogs can get back into this.

Depending on how the teams below the Ice Dogs do this weekend, right back in the Quinton Byfield conversation !

thescout.ca
In Ontario, the top spot (2018 OHL Draft Ranking) has been quickly put to rest because of the incredible play of Quinton Byfield. A special player on a dominant York-Simcoe team, Byfield has been the story of the season thus far with many believing that he is the best minor midget AAA prospect since Connor McDavid.

TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button
You need to know 15-year-old Quinton Byfield. The 6-foot-3 forward plays for the Toronto York Simcoe Express – Connor McDavid’s old team – in the Eastern AAA League Minor Midget League. Byfield is regarded as the leading candidate to go first overall in the 2018 OHL Draft. Byfield’s goal-scoring rate compares with those of Steven Stamkos and John Tavares at a similar age.

6 points out of First in the Eastern Conference, But 6 points out of last in Conference and OHL. .....Not out of the realm of possibility that the Dogs miss the playoffs and land the number 1 pick....Interested to see where the Dogs sit by Christmas.

Personally...I find it hard to believe (or consider it acceptable) should this team finishes the year with a worse record than last season. I don’t know what Burke said to them at their meeting but we’ll all see how they respond this weekend.

I don’t expect a top two finish from this group but I do expect them to make the playoffs. Anything less would be a disaster.

...and for the record talking about snagging a first overall pick is my definition of a DISASTER!